The best moves

So ESPN just ran an article about the 10 best moves of the offseason thus far and what do ya know Columbus has one in there:

10. Peca signs with Columbus

You could hear the groans in the press box last season when Michael Peca suffered a broken leg in a collision with Chicago's Jim Vandermeer. It was widely thought that Peca's career could be over. But just days before training camps were set to open, the unrestricted free agent signed a contract with Columbus.

The move has paid instant dividends for first-year GM Scott Howson. Peca, who is one of the game's premiere defensive forwards and faceoff specialists, has the Blue Jackets leading the league in penalty killing. Last season, Columbus was in the bottom third of the league while short-handed. The former captain and two-time Selke Trophy winner has already become a team leader and fan favorite as the Jackets look to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

The specsPeca signed a one-year, $1.915 million deal with the Blue Jackets.

Yep.. I think its safe to say Peca has been a solid value signing thus far with the Jackets although I don't think this writer gave Alexander Svitov's departure enough credit for the Jackets going out and landing Peca.

In all actuality all of Howson's moves have paid off nicely thus far this season. Now as we all know the new GM didn't have a whole lot to work with in terms of salary so he had to make the money he did have available count and that was only about 4 million and some change - lets take a look:

Jan Hejda

He's only making slightly over 1 mil a year and is playing a huge roll on defense paired with Adam Foote as the shut down defensive unit for the Jackets. Hejda is tied with Ron Haisney for the team lead in +/- with Ron Hainsey, leads the team in hits, is fourth in ice time with over 19 min played and has 3 assists. I would argue his signing has been dollar for dollar a better signing

than Peca.

Jiri Novotny

Novotny has cooled off of late but for an 800k player he has certainly had an impact. With 8 points in 13 games and considering how much he is moved around the lineup on a night to night basis I'd say this player has been a nice addition. He was brought into the team to as a player with untapped potention with the thought that Hitch could get everything he could out of him while also creating more competition on the roster. Jiri has been a key penalty killer and solid in all 3 zones.

Sheldon Brookbank

Another player that was brough in to add quality NHL depth to the organization. Unfortunately for the Jackest Brookbank played so well that when they were forced to send him to the minors he was picked up by the New Jersey Devils and made the team out of camp. Again though it just goes to show this was another quality low risk high reweard move by the GM and that showed when he was plucked off the waiver wire by an oganization like the Devils although it was dissapointed to lose him.

Derick Brassard, Kris Russell & Jarred Boll

You may be asking why include these three rookies - they weren't signed as UFAs? -- b/c these are three shining examples of how Howson belief system on how intends to manage and build this team. One example is that he has said since the moment he got here that "the players will decide who make this team". Jarred Boll came out of nowhere in camp to grab his spot/role in the lineup. Kris Russell was the best defensemen at times in camp and earned his position....and then there is Derrick Brassard who may have led all centers in points at camp but did not play the type of game Howson/Hitch desired thus he was sent down to the minors to improve it. The three moves represent a solid changing of guard for this organization in terms of player management -- no longer will 1st round draft picks be given roster spots and no longer will prospects be mis-developed and played in roles they aren't ready or capable of at the highest level.

It will be interesting to see what moves, if any, Howson makes as the season continues.....especially at the deadline regardless of if this team is still in the thick of the hunt - which I think it will be. What's even more interesting will be to see what he does with all the freed up money from Foote and Fedorov's contacts and if he resigns UFAs to be like Chimera, Vyborny, Hainsey and/or Shelley.

-LTL

#1 center still up for grabs

Asked yesterday if he were any closer to finding one, he shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

"We are still looking at things right now," Hitchcock said.

That pretty much sums up the article this morning in the Dispatch regarding where the #1 center position stands.

This much we know. Sergei Fedorov will either be the #1 or #2 center. Michael Peca will most likley play in the 3rd hole with Jason Chimera on his left wing and either Gilbert Brule or Dan Frtische on his right.

What we don't know is who plays in that other top 6 center position and who will round out the lineup in the 4th hole.

The candidates:

Derick Brassard: The hot shot rookie and former #1 draft pick (#6 overall) in the 2006 draft has had a very good start to his pro career and has impressed in his first camp. He's rung up 4 point, all assists, in 3 games and certainly has the the team's best playmaking skills at the center position. The dilemma though is if his body can withstand the grind of an 82 game season and can he continue to perform against men when the season starts? He is AHL eligible so there are options for the 19 year old.

Jiri Novotny: Signed as an unrestricted free agent this past summer to a two year deal and being a former #1 selection himself (#22 overall) in the 2001 draft, Novotny is also in consideration. Novotny is young at age 24 but has only managed a career high of 19 points in 68 games played. He does have a big NHL type body at 6'2" 194 lbs and as the Dispatch says, protects the pucks well. He is definitely primed for a breakout season. He'll be on the team for sure, just not sure where quite yet.

Kris Beech (pictured right): He's another former 1st round overall pick (7th overall in the 1999 draft) who played 64 games last year for the Washington Capitals tallying 8g 18a for 26 points. He signed a one year two way deal as an unrestrictied free agent this past summer. Beech is a 6'2" 209 lber who is best known as being the key part to a trade that himeself to the Pittsburg Penguins and sent Jarmir Jagr to the Capitals back in the 2001-2002 season. Beech is a 26 year old and so far this preseason has shown some promise. He was recently promoted to center the line between Nash and Vyborny which means the coaches are taking a good hard look at this kid.

So those three appear to be the candidates. Brassard has the best skill set out of the three but is a rookie and may need some seasoning in the minors before assuming the #1 center role. Both Beech and Novonty are not ideal but have been around the NHL for a few years now, have NHL builds and play a solid North American style game. They probably aren't going to put up great numbers but may be serviceable to fill the gap until a guy like Brassard is ready.

Other outside candidates include Fredrik Modin who is primarily a scoring winger but if things get desperate he could be moved to center. Gilbert Brule and Dan Frtische were also drafted as centers but have been moved to wing - they could get looks as the season progresses especially if they show a scoring and playmaking touch and responsible two way play.

Its another team building day at camp. The players will practice at 9:30 and then are off to an undisclosed location in central Ohio for team building activities.

Next game is tomorrow against the Carolina Hurricanes. Its the final home game of the preseason.

-LTL

New details on camp from Bluejackets.com

Cool pic eh? Its sitting right on front of bluejackets.nhl.com! Anyhow they have just released details for camp including the rosters and schedule:

For complete rosters follow this link:

For complete schedule follow this link:

Here are some details from the article:

The Columbus Blue Jackets begin preparations for their seventh National Hockey League season with the opening of training camp on Friday, September 14 at The Dispatch Ice Haus. All practices held at The Dispatch Ice Haus will be open to the public. There are 58 players expected to participate in this year’s training camp.

The first eight days of camp will consist of all players being divided into two groups – Team Blue and Team White – with each day featuring on-ice practices, off-ice workouts and video sessions. Following the first eight days, the players are scheduled to practice as one squad during the remainder of camp.

http://bluejackets.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=336946

Looking over the roster both Joel Bouchard (defensemen) and Jeffrey Szwez (forward) will be in camp on PTOs (Professional Try Out). All indications point to Szwez trying to earn an AHL contract as he spent time between both the Crunch and Bombers last year. What I know of Bouchard is that he is a strong puck moving NHL level defensemen but the knock on him is that he can never stay healthy. In fact looking over his profile on hockeydb.com, he's only played in 32 games once over the past 9 seasons. He'll be someone to keep an eye on as that is certainly an area we could use a boost on.

The rest of the roster are familiar names who are guys on our team or in our development pipeline. Both Zenon Konopka and Alexandre Picard are listed as injured. Picard we knew would be out due to his ACL injury suffered it the AHL playoffs last year. Konopka (pictured right) appears to have a hand injury which is unfortunate because I think he would have been in the mix for a fourth line role. He brings an sandpaper agitating game to the lineup and isn't afraid to drop the mits if neccessary.

As far as the schedule. The Jackets teams will take the ice Friday, September 14th for the first time in the Ice Haus. The Blue Team will take the ice first from 9-10:50 a.m. and then then White Team will follow from 11-12:50 p.m.. The teams will swap time slots the next day. According to the schedule there will be daily video sessions (except on game days) and off-ice training.

Oh and for you number watchers out there, here are the numbers for the newest Jackets: Peca will wear 19, Hejda 8, Brookbank 44, Beech 24 and Novotny 12.

Should be fun and hopefully some of you fans can make it to a couple practices to get a first look at the year's CBJ.

-LTL